Court Is Back In Session

For Some, Return Is A Miracle

The words did not have to be eloquent or poetic. They did not even have to be spoken, and weren't.

They came Saturday in a crisp, two-word fax.

"I'm back."

And from Bulls coach Phil Jackson, this classic understatement: "Today, Michael Jordan was activated as a Chicago Bull."

Activated, indeed.

Jordan will be in uniform Sunday against the Indiana Pacers, honoring his retired No. 23 by donning No. 45, initiating a historic comeback and reinvigorating a nation's sports landscape that has been marred by labor strife.

Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in an interview he expects Jordan to play three to four more years. That instantly changes the outlook of the franchise, which had planned wholesale rebuilding this summer. And it all but insures that the nucleus of Jordan, Scottie Pippen and B.J. Armstrong will remain in Chicago.

More immediately, the expectations for a rather mediocre Bulls team suddenly brighten. Just three games above .500, the Bulls now head into their final 17 regular season games with a real shot at contending for a fourth NBA title.

But the Bulls still are missing three key players from their championship run. Gone among others are Jordan's treasured backcourt mate John Paxson; the team's noble center, Bill Cartwright; and fierce defender and rebounder Horace Grant.

In their places are role players such as Steve Kerr, Bill Wennington and Pete Myers, as well as Toni Kukoc, who came to Chicago from Croatia largely for the chance of playing with one of the greatest players in the world.

Even with Jordan's imminent return, Jackson warned against expecting too much of a club that has several liabilities, including rebounding and defense.

But he allowed with a wry grin, "We're going to get some scoring, I'll tell you that."

Despite the recent rumors, Jordan's return is something of a surprise. Although he had allowed 18 months ago that he would "never say never" on the issue of returning to basketball, he had steadfastly maintained since then he was seriously leaning against it.

"I hoped for it," Jackson admitted. "I never thought it would be an actuality."

Heightening the hopes surrounding his comeback is the fact that Jordan is returning at or near his prime. He is one month past his 32nd birthday.

Although Jordan may be rusty from his layoff, few doubt he will reinvigorate the Bulls and a league that has been missed his grace on the court and his star quality off it.

"M.J. is M.J.," said longtime opponent and now teammate Ron Harper, after practicing with Jordan 10 days ago. "He does things no player in the league can do or ever will do."

His accomplishments are unparalleled: a record-tying seven straight scoring titles, three MVP awards, seven first-team All-NBA selections, six All-Defensive team awards. He may be the most creative, electric and popular athlete of our time.

So, what of the legend? Surely his return will expose him to comparison with his very best days. Attempting to defend his short-lived decision to play baseball, Jordan addressed the very same issue in an interview last summer.

"People said, `You'll taint your image as a basketball player by playing baseball,' " Jordan said. "But you can't do that. You can't touch what I did in basketball. You can't touch it. You can never take that away from me."

Over the last week, Jordan spoke to friends of his anger at the eight-month-old baseball strike, and of his boredom at the thought of inactivity. But apparently the goal of taking the Bulls back to the top proved an irresistible challenge.

The Jordan watch began a week and a half ago when he attended his second straight Bulls practice after joining an informal video session. The sightings ignited an international form of Michael Mania that spread from Chicago to Las Vegas gambling parlors to world capitals.

World and local leaders weighed in on the return Saturday.

"It's great for Chicago, it's great for Illinois, and it's great for basketball," a spokesman for President Clinton said.

Said Mayor Richard M. Daley, "I'm happy for our city because Michael Jordan is our very own. But this is not only an exciting day for Bulls fans. People who love basketball around the world can celebrate."

In Europe, sports and political dailies alike devoted two to three pages a day to the subject in recent days, with foreign reporters flying to Chicago and calling their American counterparts for any tidbits.

Rumors proliferated each time Jordan was spotted. People breathlessly repeated each report of a Jordan conversation with a friend of a friend of a friend. Betting odds fluctuated wildly.

In baseball, he wore No. 45. In doing the same with the Bulls this time around, it would represent the beginnings of a new era-and surely a savvy move to market fresh merchandise.

For children too young to appreciate Jordan's gifts as No. 23 or those merely caught off guard by his stunning retirement announcement, this affords the chance to savor each moment.